The Anti-Poverty Forum Malta in a in a joint statement on Monday voiced their concerns over Third-Country Nationals (TCNs) trying to access medical healthcare.

The Forum, together with six other organisations, said that “while we acknowledge Malta’s strategy to attract skilled immigrants, we are concerned that the current policy, which denies free healthcare to TCNs during the first year of their stay, is creating significant challenges.”

They argued that “despite TCNs contributing to the economy through employment, paying National Insurance (NI) and taxes, they are still unable to access free healthcare during their first year in Malta.”

The organisations went on to say that this policy has led to TCNs “being hesitant to seek medical care, even in urgent and emergency situations, due to the fear of receiving substantial bills. Unfortunately, this has caused some individuals to avoid necessary medical appointments, including critical prenatal and post-natal care.”

“We believe that all individuals contributing to the economy should have access to free healthcare and education. To address this issue, we propose that the policy should apply to those TCNs who have not yet immigrated to Malta, with employers required to provide health insurance for their employees and dependents before their arrival,” said the organisations. “Similarly, we recommend that this policy extend to education for TCNs in their first year of residence, ensuring equitable access to essential services.”

The organisations concluded by urging the government to “reconsider this policy and take into account the contributions TCNs are making to Malta’s economy, ensuring they receive the necessary support during their initial period of stay.”

The joint statement is endorsed by:

OASI Foundation

SOS Malta

Dar Hosea

YMCA – Malta

RISe Foundation

ADHD Malta.

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